Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
City
The Bay of St. Louis, the new bay bridge, and the city of Bay St. Louis on the western shore (upper part of photo)

Location of Bay St. Louis, MS
Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 30°18′53″N 89°20′39″W / 30.31472°N 89.34417°W / 30.31472; -89.34417Coordinates: 30°18′53″N 89°20′39″W / 30.31472°N 89.34417°W / 30.31472; -89.34417
Country United States
State Mississippi
County Hancock
Government
 • Mayor Mike Favre
Area
 • Total 26.6 sq mi (69.0 km2)
 • Land 14.7 sq mi (38.1 km2)
 • Water 11.9 sq mi (30.9 km2)
Elevation 23 ft (7 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 9,260
 • Estimate (2016)[1] 12,667
 • Density 862/sq mi (332.9/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Code 39520, 39521, 39522
Area code(s) 228
FIPS code 28-03980
GNIS feature ID 0666588
Website www.baystlouis-ms.gov

Bay St. Louis is a city in and the county seat of Hancock County, Mississippi, in the United States.[2] Located on the Gulf Coast on the west side of the Bay of St. Louis, it is part of the Gulfport–Biloxi Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 9,260.[3]

The city is recovering after population was lost in 2005 due to evacuations related to Hurricane Katrina. Many people stayed away from the city because of extensive damage from the storm surge. The Census Bureau's 2016 population estimate was 12,667.[1]

History

The first European settlers in this area were French colonists, whose culture still influences the small city. They imported slaves from Africa. A Louisiana Creole population developed of free people of color.

The county was organized by European Americans, who named it after a Founding Father of the United States. While more Protestant Americans migrated into this area after Indian Removal in the 1830s, there are still many Catholic families, some dating to both African and French ancestors of the colonial era. Roman Catholic schools still draw area students.


Geography

Bay St. Louis is located in southeastern Hancock County at 30°18'53" North, 89°20'39" West (30.314696, −89.344096).[4] It is situated on west side of the Bay of St. Louis, which empties into the Mississippi Sound. The city is bordered to the north by the Jourdan River, the primary inlet of the bay. The eastern border of the city is the Harrison County line in the middle of the bay.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.6 square miles (69.0 km2), of which 14.7 square miles (38.1 km2) are land and 11.9 square miles (30.9 km2), or 44,82%, are water.[3]

Bay St. Louis (left center) is west of Pass Christian, along the Gulf of Mexico.

Major highways

  • Interstate 10 passes through the northern extension of the city, 10 miles (16 km) northwest of downtown, with access from Exit 13 (Highway 603). I-10 leads east 37 miles (60 km) to Biloxi and southwest 54 miles (87 km) to New Orleans.
  • U.S. Highway 90 passes just north of downtown Bay St. Louis, leading east across the St. Louis Bay Bridge to Pass Christian. Via US 90 it is 15 miles (24 km) east to Gulfport and 60 miles (97 km) southwest to New Orleans.
  • Mississippi Highway 603 runs along the western edge of the Bay St. Louis city limits, connecting US 90 and Interstate 10.

Adjacent cities and towns

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18801,978—
18901,974−0.2%
19002,87245.5%
19103,38818.0%
19203,033−10.5%
19303,72422.8%
19404,13811.1%
19504,62111.7%
19605,0739.8%
19706,75233.1%
19807,85016.3%
19908,0632.7%
20008,2091.8%
20109,26012.8%
Est. 201612,667[1]36.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
Hancock County Courthouse in Bay St. Louis

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 8,209 people, 3,271 households, and 2,064 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,342.1 people per square mile (517.9/km²). There were 3,817 housing units at an average density of 624.1 per square mile (240.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.23% White, 16.59% African American, 0.40% Native American, 1.11% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. 1.68% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,271 households out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% have someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size is 3.05.

In the city, the population was 24.5% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.0 males. The median income for a household in the city was $34,106, and the median income for a family was $41,957. Males had a median income of $32,261 versus $21,308 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,483. 13.2% of the population and 10.0% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 17.2% of those under the age of 18 and 11.5% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Education

The city of Bay St. Louis is served by the Bay St. Louis-Waveland School District.

It is the home of Bay High School. In addition there are private Catholic schools: St. Stanislaus College Prep, a residency and day school for boys grades 7–12; and Our Lady Academy, a day school for girls grades 7–12. The latter two share some classrooms as well as a Roman Catholic curriculum.

Hurricanes

On August 17, 1969, Hurricane Camille made landfall at the tip of Louisiana before continuing to Bay St. Louis.

The Bay Bridge on US Highway 90 in 2005, following Hurricane Katrina

On August 29, 2005, at 10:00 a.m. CDT, Hurricane Katrina made its final landfall just west of Bay St. Louis, at the mouth of the Pearl River, causing a 28-foot (8.5 m) storm surge. Hurricane Katrina came ashore during the high tide of 9:15AM, +2.3 feet more,[7] causing a storm tide more than 30 feet (9.1 m) high.

USGS topographic maps show a common 25-foot (7.6 m) elevation contour line running throughout a ridge along the former routing of Highway 90 (Old Spanish Trail) on the western edge of the city. As higher ground, this area was spared inundation from the storm surge of Hurricane Katrina.

Katrina damaged more than 40 Mississippi libraries, including severe roof and water damage to the Bay St. Louis Public Library. The library reopened to the public on October 12, 2005.[8]

The Bay St. Louis Bridge on US Highway 90 was severely damaged, with many bridge sections down-dropped at the west edges. The destroyed bridge was replaced by a new Bay St. Louis Bridge, which received America's Transportation Award. It includes a pedestrian bridge with an art walk featuring the works of local artists.

The underground utility infrastructure in Bay St. Louis received a federally funded total overhaul and replacement.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Bay St. Louis has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[9]

Notable people

  • Albert J. Raboteau, is an African-American scholar of African and African-American religions, a professor at Princeton University for more than 30 years. He was born into a Catholic family and lived here for a few years as a child.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. 1 2 "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Bay St. Louis city, Mississippi". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
  4. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  5. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  6. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  7. ↑ "2005 NOAA Tide Predictions: St. Louis Bay entrance" (2005), tide on 29-Aug-2005, NOAA, web: NOAA-tide-tables.
  8. ↑ "Hurricane Katrina Related Damages to Public Libraries in Mississippi" (September 2005), Mississippi Library Commission, (ALA-Katrina) Archived 2007-10-31 at the Wayback Machine..
  9. ↑ "Bay St. Louis, Mississippi Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
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